Composing with April Showers

Since today is April 1, it’s only appropriate to use do some composing with April showers. We have some of those April showers forecasted for the rest of the week. And appropriately this is the next step for my Twinkle group class in their composing journey.

The Beginning Steps

Here’s what they have done already this year. First, we used Twinkle rhythm patterns that they already learned. They chose what order to play open A and open E. The could chose one Twinkle pattern to play for their whole composition. You can read more about this first step here at my blog post: A Beginning Step to Composing. Next, still using open A and open E, students choose which order to play A or E, but now they can choose which Twinkle pattern to play on each letter. I approach this step using the idea of puzzle pieces. They can mix and match puzzle pieces with the pitches and the rhythms. You can read more about that at this post: Compose with Puzzles.

Composing an 8 note song

Todays activity uses a short rhyme. And we will be composing with “April Showers Bring May Flowers.”

1. Clap and say the rhyme several times. There are 8 syllables in the rhyme. You should clap one time on each syllable. It should be a steady clap. Written out in notation it would look like 8 quarter notes.

2. This is the experiment step. Beginning and ending our song on A, now we choose 6 notes from the A string, A, B, C# or D, to play on each syllable. At this point, I like to demonstrate creating some songs on the spot. Say the words out loud for the rhyme while playing. Demonstrate for the student making up several different “songs.” I try not to play the same example more than once since that often sticks in their head. Then they should try making one up. Remind them to start on A, and the teacher or practice partner will say the words while they play.

3. Next, I assign them to make up different songs for 2 or 3 days, THEN choose their favorite creation to write down.

4. Ask their parent or practice partner to write down the letters for them while the student plays their song and tells the parent what letters they are playing. Write one letter in each flower.

5. Finally, decide on a title.

Side Note:

I think it’s important for students to continue to try making up several different songs. Don’t jump to writing down the first song you try. Create lots of different ones. You may need to prompt the student with some ideas to use stepping notes, or some repeated notes. I really want young students to learn to experiment on the instrument. By using notes that they know, they can use good technique have the opportunity to create their own music.